HPMA Your 2011 Houston Press Music Awards Winners By Craig Hlavaty Wed., Nov. 16 2011 at 8:53 AM Categories: HPMA Share Photo By Marco Torres All night, attendees to the awards show signed a special banner for Chris Gray. It was a dandy of an evening last night at Warehouse Live as we handed out those silver records to some of Houston's best musicians and luminaries at the 22nd Annual Houston Press Music Awards Ceremony. If you were there you were treated to sounds from Delicious Milk, thelastplaceyoulook, Sideshow Tramps, Otenki, Uzoy, and Fat Tony. If you were also there you remember the lusty and hearty crowd, who unleashed a round of boos any time that 94.5 The Buzz was mentioned, which made everything a bit more fun and exciting for those of us steering the show. Overall the event was a blast, the music was great, the acceptance speeches didn't disappoint, the presenters were lovely, and only a few cubes of ice were thrown at the stage. Even though Music Editor Chris Gray wasn't there to help give out the awards, we did get to show a special video message from him and his brother John Seaborn Gray, in which the Gray boys thanked Houston for all the support that has been showered on them these past few challenging weeks. Sideshow Tramps, winners for Best Americana, turned in a blistering, sexy performance of their "John The Revelator" halfway through the show, fogging up the bottles at the bar with a grime-laden skronk and stomp, aided by guest vocalist Kam Franklin. It was easily one of the best sets of any HPMA ceremony we have been a part of. Photo By Marco Torres thelastplaceyoulook accepting their award for Best Rock Lead singer Nava of thelastplaceyoulook, who won Best Male Vocals and Best Rock, tried to make sense of the Buzz booing, reminding the crowd that the radio station has been giving his local band a chance, playing their single with great regularity. Best Scenester winner Roach, a metal show mainstay, reminded everyone not to go to shows to be seen, but becuase you love the music. His appearance onstage was met with a thunderous cheer. We were sad to see B L A C K I E not on hand to accept his Best Experimental/Noise trophy, missing the chance to have the first full-contact acceptance speech in HPMA history. Local Musician Of The Year winner Robert Ellis, whose stint presenting awards was one of the most fun and chaotic periods of the evening, made sure to thank Houston, his wife, the Lord, and Gray - in that order - for all the love and support he's had the past year. At the end of the evening, he donned quasi-corpse paint to play guitar in closers Delicious Milk, who had about ten HPMA nominees total in their all-star band. Here are the winners of the 22nd Annual Houston Press Music Awards.... Best Miscellaneous Instrument - Geoffrey Mueller Best Keyboards - Colton Majors, Otenki Best Bassist - Nick Gaitan, Umbrella Man Best Guitarist - Kelly Doyle, Robert Ellis & The Boys Best Drummer - Chris Kelly, Otenki Best Instrument/Equipment Store - Guitar Center Best Scenester - Roach Best Folk - Harts Of Oak Best Jazz - Free Radicals Best Female Vocals - Monica Matocha Best Cover/Tribute Act - The Fab 5 Best Zydeco - Zydeco Dots Best Producer - Beans & Kornbread Best Country - Robert Ellis & The Boys Best Radio Personality - Rod Ryan, 94.5 The Buzz Best Blues - Little Joe Washington Best Pop Artist - Monica Matocha Best Rap DJ - DJ Mr. Rogers Best Electronic Act - Glasnost Best Experimental/Noise - B L A C K I E Best Male Vocals - Nava, thelastplaceyoulook Photo By Marco Torres It wouldn't have been a party without Skeleton Dick... Best Punk/Garage - Skeleton Dick Best Latin - CHangoMan Best Radio Program - The Rod Ryan Show, 94.5 The Buzz Best Soul/Funk/R&B - Electric Attitude Best Reggae/Ska/Dub - Los Skarnales Best Club DJ/DJ Night - GRRRL Parts Best Indie/Alternative - Screwtape Best Radio Station - 94.5 The Buzz Best Solo Rapper - Bun B Best Americana - Sideshow Tramps Best Metal - Venomous Maximus Best Rock - thelastplaceyoulook Best Songwriter - Robert Ellis Best Local Label - Space City Records Photo By Marco Torres Craig Kinsey of the Sideshow Tramps staring down sanity Best Record Store - Cactus Music Best Rap Group - The Niceguys Best Live Music Venue - House Of Blues Best New Act - The Handshake Best LP/CD/EP - Trae Tha Truth, Street King Best Mixtape - Killa Kyleon, Candy Paint & Texas Plates 2 Best Song - "Drank In My Song", Kirko Bangz Local Musician Of The Year - Robert Ellis .